Jesus Montero, Former Top Yankees Prospect, Chases Scout With Bat

The Sports Xchange

Seattle Mariners minor-league catcher/first baseman Jesus Montero, on a rehab assignment with short-season Everett at Boise, went after a cross-checker scout with a bat during Thursday's game after the scout heckled him.

According to MiLB.com, Montero went into the stands with a bat after the scout ordered him to hustle off the field in Spanish and had an ice cream sandwich sent to him in the dugout.

The cross-checker, who was overseeing other Mariners scouts, was apparently teasing Montero about his weight. Montero had reported to spring training 40 pounds overweight. At the time of the incident, Montero was acting as first base coach.

After exchanging words, Montero had to be physically restrained when he tried to enter the stands where the scout was sitting while carrying a bat in his hands. Montero swore at the scout, threw the ice cream sandwich at him and then was pulled back by Everett pitching coach Nasusel Cabrera, according to the Boise official scorer.

Montero was once considered one of the top prospects in the Yankees' organization before he was traded to Seattle for pitcher Michael Pineda. He was not ejected from the game and remained in the Everett dugout until the end of the contest. Everett won 13-8.

"I am aware of the incident in Boise," Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik told the Seattle Times on Thursday night. "We are currently in the process of gathering information, but until I have all the details, I cannot comment."

Montero joined the Everett squad in Boise early this week and was scheduled to be placed on the roster Friday.

Montero, 24, is batting .286 with 16 home runs and 74 RBIs in 97 games with Triple-A Tacoma this season.